Usually this season, Naylor collapses in these types of games.
Credit a coaches' pep talk, a timely hit that was a few feet into the right spot, or clutch pitching late, but the Eagles held on to beat Twin Rivers 8-7 in the Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament third-place game.
"It was a good job for them to get a conference win and come home with a plaque, so I'm really proud of them," Naylor coach James Bond said.
Naylor (12-4) had half as many hits but half as many errors as the Royals, who fought back from being down 5-0 to tie it at six in the top of the fifth inning, and then again at seven in the top of the sixth inning.
To tie it the first time, Jayden Teague hit a one-hopper to center field and the center fielder overran the play as the ball rolled past him toward the fence and two runs scored, giving the Royals a 7-6 lead.
After the play, the Eagles also made a pitching change, with Seth Jones replacing Eli Roark.
Allen Hendrix tied the game for Naylor in the bottom of the sixth when he scored on a passed ball that was also a walk.
An inning later, Jones connected for a hard hit grounder down the third baseline. Twin Rivers third basemen Chance Sarabia made a driving stop and throw from his knees to first, but it wasn't on time as Roark scored to put the Eagles ahead 8-7.
Twin Rivers (6-11) put the tying run on with one out in the top of the seventh, but relief pitcher Sean Cline got a fly out to center and a pop up to second for the win.
The Royals committed five errors and didn't have a hit through three innings and found themselves in a 5-0 hole.
"Defense usually defines these big games and today, especially early on, our defense just didn't show up the way it needed to," Twin Rivers coach Chris Newman said.
Twin Rivers got back into the game with four runs in the fourth inning. The Royals got things going when Tanner Ledbetter hit a come backer to breakup Roark's no-hitter with one out.
Jones allowed two hits and no walks with two strikeouts in the win for Naylor. Roark, in five innings, allowed eight hits and three walks with two strikeouts.
Montana Kendle threw 5 1/3 innings and allowed four hits and five walks with three strikeouts.
Aaron Mittelstadt and Preston Martin each had two hits for the Royals. Mittestadt also had two RBIs and Kendle got two, as well.
Chance Smith scored three runs for Naylor and Sarabia had two RBIs.